Open Panzer

Open Panzer Help & Info => Show and Tell => Topic started by: NS-21 on January 31, 2020, 06:19:32 PM

Title: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: NS-21 on January 31, 2020, 06:19:32 PM
INTRODUCTION.

Some time ago, I wondered which tank control board I should use?

Will it be branded well-known proprietary control boards of well-known brands, or will I try to do something myself while studying arduino programming, or will it be something else?


It so happened that my searches and throwings led me to a huge work of a person, and I write this blog (I think I was not mistaken with the format and choice of the topic position for this post).

It all started with the well-known store hobbyking, where I came across a TCB board.

It immediately seemed to me very simple, terribly understandable, but there was a problem! The product has already been discontinued!

I was very upset then, and my wallet cried, which saw only one alternative. Proprietary boards of well-known manufacturers.

For some time I left my dream, started studying electronics, arduino, mastered a lot of technologies, went a long way in understanding how the author of the TSB did his great project, and I told myself!

Stop suffering! Quickly raised his ass, and applied the knowledge!

The great work of a compatriot from the city of St. Petersburg and the author’s comments both on this forum and on the forum in my country helped me in this.

(it’s very bad that the owner of the forum DENY does not respond to my requests to help me register on his forum, well then I will write here, on the forum of the author of the project, if this is not interesting and in demand in my country).

And I made up my mind. I decided to make my version of the board for myself, going all the way:

1. Creating a circuit in EasyEDA, repeating the path of the author of the original circuit board.
2. Checking the circuit, and ordering a printed circuit board in another country.
3. Ordering electronic components, a stencil for solder paste, practice soldering components using paste.
4. The study of the labor potential of the respected author of the TSB, in the do-it-yourself version.
5. Getting a board that I can’t buy already, having made it for myself and my projects.



I will write about this in this topic, describing all the difficulties that I encountered, being a dumb military, in the field of electronics.

P.S.
I apologize, I write in my own language, and use online translators.
I will be glad if my mistakes in grammar and spelling are explained verbatim to me.
I will be glad if they point out the flaws in my engineering approach.
I will be glad to any advice and criticism.
Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: LukeZ on February 03, 2020, 06:39:47 AM
Good introduction, and you have chosen a very ambitious project, but I have seen already you have the skills to bring it to completion.

Do not worry about your language, the translator is working very well and I can understand you perfectly! Hopefully you can understand us just as well.

That is too bad you have not been able to register for the Russian forum, you might try to send Deny a private message through this forum and maybe he will see it.

I will look forward to your future updates.
Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: NS-21 on February 05, 2020, 08:35:22 PM
I wrote the DENY here in the private messages section.

I am inclined to think that in Russia we don’t have a friendly atmosphere in this hobby, and he knows and remembers this, since he still hasn’t answered.

A lot of time has passed, and I'm not sure that he saw my message in the private messages section.

I decided that I write my way here, as I can in English, and maybe I can post a pdf in Russian, maybe.

But I doubt that it is in demand in my country.

Luke, let's not talk about this anymore, and focus on the development of your project, and my interpretation.

So that as many people as possible come to your project, and bring a new, useful one, all modelers need it!


P.S. At the end of my story, as I repeated your path using your experience - I will leave on this site - a complete guide in Russian in the format pdf.


Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: NS-21 on February 05, 2020, 09:01:41 PM
I have never had any knowledge in the field of electronics.

As they say to the country, Japan is a bad warrior who studies only the military craft.
And when I saw that there was no open alternative, and found experience from the city of St. Petersburg, I realized what needs to be done for myself.

But I do not know how to make tracks in printed circuit boards!

The search engines helped with this, and I got to the EasyEDA website.

It turned out they have a development program!

Left a little!

Deal with the interface of this development program (I will not post links so as not to violate the rules of this forum).

I made such a shame (document 1):


Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: NS-21 on February 05, 2020, 09:16:29 PM
Now, after receiving my first work, I know my mistakes, and the author of the project encouraged me by indicating how many versions he released earlier!

I learned that you need to keep track not with wiring in the program, but you need to use terminal contacts!

I will definitely apply this when I do for myself - a sound card Open tank.


As many can see, I started this project in 2019.

I doubted for a long time whether I made the scheme correctly.

As a result, I told myself - do as you see fit, and if you did it wrong - then you can fix it!

After some time, 10 printed circuit boards arrived.
In fact, there was not much difference in price, ordering 5 pieces of boards, or 10. I thought more - not less.

If anything - I will give my first experience, provided that it works, to other enthusiasts.


Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: NS-21 on February 05, 2020, 09:48:20 PM
After the war ended, and when I resigned so as not to go crazy, I participated in many rehabilitation programs.

In Russia, many who have never served in the army like to say without thoroughly that there is no support for veterans.

They are liars. They do not like their country, they talk nasty things about it, it’s bad.

Confirmation of my words is my work, the path is bad and not professional, but those who did not want to participate in the programs - they died due to drunkenness.

Why am I writing this? I want to set an example. What kind of education would you not have - if you want to -> you can go this way.

This is actually not difficult. You just need to say to yourself: "I will go this way, I can."


A long time ago, in 2010, I took soldering courses and got an additional civilian profession, past the existing military knowledge and military rank - an electronic equipment installer.

And although the author thought that I soldered the first board using a stencil - he was mistaken.

All components on this board are sealed with a self-made soldering station based on the STM32 chip, bought on Aliexpress using a T12-BC1 cartridge


During the courses I learned to control my hands after a severe head injury so that my hands would not tremble.

But a little later, I will show a home-made printer for paste paste.

I bought components for 10 printed circuit boards.


In the picture below, you can see the result of the printed circuit board soldered by my hands, using my homemade soldering station:



Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: NS-21 on February 16, 2020, 01:59:32 PM
I made for applying paste through a stencil to printed circuit boards:
Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: LukeZ on February 17, 2020, 06:32:22 AM
Good heavens, that is quite the jig! You are definitely not ignoring the small details.
Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: Rad_Schuhart on February 17, 2020, 08:27:48 AM
That looks super profesional! People would buy them for sure!
Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: NS-21 on February 21, 2020, 02:31:54 PM
Good heavens, that is quite the jig! You are definitely not ignoring the small details.

Thank you dear mastermind! When I started this my way, I looked at your main circuit board, and as they say in Russia they say: "I look in a book, and I don’t understand what!"

But the road will be mastered by the one who goes along it!


It will take me a while to redo my old turnigy 9x console and I will continue the story.

Today I have tried most of the hints and advantages of the board, but I already see the enormous potential of the work of the author Luke.

At the moment - I am studying settings and configuring settings, triggers and more.

The only thing I miss is changing the assignment of the outputs of the RC channels.

And I also soldered the board, one more, but already using a handheld printer for applying solder paste, and melting the paste, you can see it in the pictures below.


That looks super profesional! People would buy them for sure!

To be honest, for me it is more a learning experience, I do not plan to sell my work based on someone else's global work.
For me it’s a hobby, and a desire to popularize Luke’s work.
Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: LukeZ on February 23, 2020, 05:29:21 AM
The only thing I miss is changing the assignment of the outputs of the RC channels.
I don't know if you have a question about this, but if you do let me know.

To be honest, for me it is more a learning experience, I do not plan to sell my work based on someone else's global work. For me it’s a hobby, and a desire to popularize Luke’s work.
Because the project is open source you are certainly permitted to sell your designs if you want. Of course assembling boards, taking orders and shipping is usually not worth the effort for the small hobbyist. One thing you can do is simply make the design available for anyone else who wants to build the same board.

You can think about that later after you have tested the hardware and made sure it does what you expect!
Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: NS-21 on February 26, 2020, 01:01:44 PM
Hi LukeZ! Good day and good luck in everything!

I can’t understand how I need in the setup program - to change the output, which channel will control the left/right engine, which lift cannon, which rotary tower.

As I understand it, this does not change in the program, only in mixing using the remote control?

So that the commander’s observation tower rotates - separately, from another remote control source.

Mixing channels is my headache.
It seems clear, but it does not work.

I figured out the triggers a bit, but not completely understood. I want to know all the features of the settings, all sections.

P.S.
I am gradually translating Wiki Open Panzer into Russian, is it possible to add the Russian version Wiki Open Panzer on your official website?

P.P.S.

I redid my turnigy 9x to work with FrSky XJT transmitters and changed the firmware to ER9X, and the processor to a more powerful and more internal memory.


Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: LukeZ on February 27, 2020, 09:58:23 AM
I can’t understand how I need in the setup program - to change the output, which channel will control the left/right engine, which lift cannon, which rotary tower.

As I understand it, this does not change in the program, only in mixing using the remote control?
You can change the order of all the channels on the Radio tab of OP Config using the Order option for each channel. Of course in some cases (for Aux channels) the assignment also depends on which Aux channel you assign to which function. So no, you do not need to change the channels in your remote control, it can all be done in OP Config.

Mixing channels is my headache.
There really should be no need to "mix" any channels unless you are doing something really creative.

P.S. I am gradually translating Wiki Open Panzer into Russian, is it possible to add the Russian version Wiki Open Panzer on your official website?
Thank you for the kind offer, but I would rather not do that right now. Several people have previously tried, even in Russian, but the process is never completed and it also creates work for me. The website can be translated with Google and although I know it isn't perfect I will leave it at that for now.

P.P.S. I redid my turnigy 9x to work with FrSky XJT transmitters and changed the firmware to ER9X, and the processor to a more powerful and more internal memory.
That is a very good radio combination, I use the same thing. Learning er9x at first can be confusing. Maybe this is where your comment about mixing comes from. In er9x, every channel you want to use has to be assigned in the "Mixer" menu on your transmitter. By default I think only the first four channels are defined. We are not actually doing any "mixing" here, just assigning channels to outputs on your receiver. There is an er9x manual here (https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6473#top), including a version in Russian.
Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: savall21 on June 03, 2020, 07:03:15 AM
I've been following your work and hats off to you two.  I would be happy to purchase three.  If not that then I would like use your designs to have three made for myself.  I just ordered some Heng Long tanks.  My son and I really like the Tamiya combat system but not the price tag.  I want something that can be configured to emulate it.
Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: LukeZ on June 03, 2020, 08:29:16 AM
Hi Chris, unfortunately the boards are not for sale anywhere presently, and building one yourself is likely to cost as much or more than a Tamiya! But you are free to use the designs to have them made somewhere if you want, however it is not a simple or inexpensive process, and to date I don't know anyone who has done it.
Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: savall21 on June 03, 2020, 10:31:37 AM
Thanks. So, if i try to use an Arduino card my main issue will be connecting the external peripherals? (ESC, receiver, IR sensor, motors)
Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: LukeZ on June 04, 2020, 03:00:59 PM
Sorry for the slow reply, but yes that is correct. A very few peripherals are easy to connect, namely the receiver (assuming iBus or PPM, sBus requires another component), ESCs, and any servos you may happen to be using, though most people don't. Also the Benedini is easy to connect. By easy what I mean is you just wire it directly, as described on the first page of this thread: Testing TCB Firmware with Stock Arduino Mega (http://openpanzer.org/forum/index.php?topic=16.0)

But everything else (lights, mechanical recoil, IR stuff, etc) will require other electrical components in addition to the Arduino, and at that point you are looking at making your own mini-circuits or using some kind of adapter board as some have described in the aforementioned thread. If this is your first foray into Arduino world this is not a good project to start on, but if you already have experience then you can try it so long as you don't mind tinkering and blowing time and money! 

If you do decide to experiment in that direction the thread I linked to above would be the best place to continue that discussion.
Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: jhamm on June 05, 2020, 07:27:37 AM
Hi,
it is possible to wire one LED direct to the Arduino lights output.
A little transistor or FET is neccessary if the current for the lights is higher than 30 -50 mA.
Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: NS-21 on June 30, 2021, 04:34:07 PM
I've been following your work and hats off to you two.  I would be happy to purchase three.  If not that then I would like use your designs to have three made for myself.  I just ordered some Heng Long tanks.  My son and I really like the Tamiya combat system but not the price tag.  I want something that can be configured to emulate it.

Dear Savall21!

At the time this topic was created, I got early experience in building a DIY TCB control board.

I still have materials for making at least three control boards, without an arduino, then I tested them completely, except for the IR combat function (it did not have an apple), and with only one Sbus transmitter. I have not tested Ibus for work, since I do not have such equipment.

I did not do the rest of the testing, since I switched to learning programming languages ​​and project localization.

I can solder this version of mine from the remnants, and give you the first first performance, and then my knowledge in electronics was meager.

But I would not even want to give - what I am not sure about.

Then - I was just learning programming and design, and I continue to learn now.

P.S. Unfortunately, I found messages in this thread, and I can't remember if I received notifications.

It was a difficult time then, I fell ill with this "fashionable" virus in a severe form, my left hand stopped working, in general everything was bad.

But I'm here again.
Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: NS-21 on June 30, 2021, 06:25:56 PM
If anyone is interested, here's where I left off last time and got back to work:

1. To begin with, I got rid of the battery compartment, making sure it is a little tight, but the work is not finished yet, as you can see:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51281943153_d4ee30b3e4_k.jpg)

Still need to close up some holes, put the oil seals on the gearbox.

2. The reverse side, without processing yet:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51281943113_e3a40cc19d_k.jpg)

3. I made (printed on a 3D printer) a bearing shoulder strap for turning the tower (0.2 mm balls are still coming from China), and gear transmission of the rotation has not yet been printed on a 3D printer

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51281027132_240c72a154_k.jpg)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51281943053_338090d8cb_k.jpg)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51281767436_5aee340dc5_k.jpg)

I also made a bearing for the rotating commander's cupola (The gear transmission of the rotation has not yet been printed on a 3D printer)  = (:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51282790275_2fa3f777c1_k.jpg)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51281027002_964e52858a_k.jpg)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51282499049_1b3376e060_k.jpg)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51282790115_ef0421d59e_k.jpg)

4. I repaired the holes left over from the attachment (not yet sealed all holes):

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51282790035_cb356f4353_k.jpg)

5. I have studied a lot of photos of a real tank, and I did not like the angle and location of the tank gun, as Heng Long did.

I modified it a bit to make it look more like the original:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51281942728_9563837eb2_k.jpg)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51281805081_408d4f7067_k.jpg)

With regards to changing the point of installation of the gun, I was guided by this photo, which I took in our museum:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51282836085_d1c03a1614_k.jpg)

Yes, I know it's M46, but they don't differ much in the gun mask, yes, they have different guns.

P.S. I don't remember if inserting images from third-party sources is encouraged, I set up a Flickr account just in case.

If I am doing something wrong, let me know, I will not do it again.

That's all for now, thanks for your interest.





 
Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: LukeZ on July 01, 2021, 10:55:01 PM
P.S. I don't remember if inserting images from third-party sources is encouraged, I set up a Flickr account just in case.

I don't mind at all if you want to insert images from third party hosting, you are not breaking any rules! Of course you are free to use the built-in forum image hosting too, but I know one disadvantage is that the images always come at the end of the post and there is no ability to embed them within the text as you have done, and as would often be convenient to do. I have tried to work around that before but it is a limitation of the forum software we are using.

Anyway you can use either approach and there is no right or wrong.

You are off to a very good start on the tank!
Title: Re: My first dev experience in DIY TCB for tank M26 HL
Post by: NS-21 on July 02, 2021, 05:46:24 PM
This is how I convert the unit of the fixed barrel of the HL tank (M26, without recoil of the gun) - into a gun with recoil, and the correct setting of the tilt-lift axis of the gun:

Spoiled the airsoft gun module to correctly measure the position of the cannon axis.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51286549069_8baaae030c_k.jpg)

Made a rough 3D model. After that I will add servo mounts, a gear for lifting the barrel, for now this is only a beta version, for trying on.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51286531944_2b8c8a77f3_b.jpg)

How it looks now inside:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51286533909_8d8a569687_k.jpg)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51286533859_97526a9a0b_k.jpg)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51286533799_b77dfe0018_k.jpg)

Work continues.

Thank you for your interest.